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Learning to drive stick

drunken0elf
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drunken0elf Collaborator

drunken0elf

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Learning to drive stick

Might sound like a strange topic to post coming from a guy that just bought a 91 GTR... But... It's the case lol.

I've almost never drove stick before and boy can I say that 1) I'm complete arse at backing up the car and 2) I hate red lights and stop signs. Learning on a stage 2 clutch is pretty rough but so much fun! 

I can't heel n toe, I can't rev match, I have a hard time changing gears in a sharp turn lol, the list goes on. 

So SAU, help a learning bro out, you got any tips for me for learning stick on a skyline? It's nothing like I've drove before. Turbo, rhd, stickshift, it's all so unsettling yet so fun.

 

Cheers!

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KiwiRS4T Grand Master

KiwiRS4T

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Don't worry about heeling and toe-ing for now. Practise the basics. Get your take offs smooth. You need to learn how far the clutch pedal comes up before it begins to bite and you need to know the minimum revs it takes to get underway without stalling. From rest let out the clutch pedal quickly to the bite point and then pausing very briefly increase revs and let the clutch right up. Do virtually the same at each upchange until it becomes second nature without over-revving or stalling. To start with do not double declutch for downshifts. If your synchros are still in working order just change down with firm smooth movements. You will soon find the necessary small increase in revs to prevent jerking. For normal driving do not downshift to slow the car - use the brakes (brake pads are cheaper than clutches and gearboxes) and then change down to suit your speed if necessary.

Do this a lot until you are comfortable changing gear while turning and can do a three point turn without drama. Heeling and Toe-ing will be easy if you can do the basics automatically - very hard otherwise.

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dave123456789 Contributor

dave123456789

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Just learn to drive it like your grandma would before you starting trying anything else. Learn the basics first, starting and stopping, shifting smoothly up and down etc. 

you will get there, once it all clicks it's pretty simple.

Edited by dave123456789
Birds Grand Master

Birds

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What the hell is a stage 2 clutch?

If that bears any reference to a twin plate clutch, please don't learn to drive with one...you will kill it...they aren't meant to be slipped let alone learned on.

Go get a few professional driving lessons so you can trash their car instead; money spent on this will be money saved on you destroying your more expensive components. They have dual control vehicles, so safer environment to learn in and experience teaching teenagers how to drive a manual, so can more than likely teach you too!

As others have said, don't worry about heel and toe etc. That stuff comes in time. When I was 16 all I wanted to do was learn to drive manual and I failed hard on the first drive with parents; couldn't get the hang of it. Embarrassed that I might never learn the "fun" way to drive but my friends could. First lesson with a professional driver and he laughed off the idea of me saying I couldn't drive manual (may he RIP...no, I didn't kill him with my driving). Within 5 minutes he had me taking off smoothly and changing gears no problems. I now consider myself the smoothest operator...a master of launches and wifi changes...and yes I heel and toe when the situation calls for it (note: rarely, and this impresses no one but yourself).

P.S. Smooth is fast!

drunken0elf Collaborator

drunken0elf

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Thanks all for the replies.

As for the stage 2, it's how we refer to an upgraded clutch where i live. Stage 0 = stock, Stage 2 = getting pretty darn stiff but will handle all the bolt ons and tune. Basically the max for a pure street car that's never going to see any track and It's not a twinplate clutch. It's just real stiff.

 

Cheers!

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